I'm really becoming concerned that Haith's coaching abilities have been exaggerated by the play of Pressey and, albeit to a lesser extent, Bowers. There is such poor movement from this offense, and while we don't have the greatest scorers in the world (Bell, Ross, and even AO are only out there because of their defense and rebounding) we should certainly see better production from guys not named Pressey or Brown. NWC has talent and potential; why is it, then, that his game seems to belong in Division II? Jankovic should utilize his height to become a weapon, but on offense he seems to take up space and ruin timing, and on defense he far too often is out of place or abused by speed. Ross should never shoot a three again, ever. I don't care if he's wide-open on the wing- STOP- SETUP A PLAY. Ugh.

I have (apprehensive) hope that he and Clark will be able to handle those duties.

I think Wes Clark is a great fit for what they ask the PG in this system to do. Just not sure he'll be ready to be the main man at the point as a true freshman. Clark has a very complete offensive game - good off the bounce and nice pull-up jumper in the mid-range.

Clarkson would give them a very interesting lineup if he's the starter at the point. You have to figure he, Brown and Ross are the starters on the wing. That should be a plus defensive group as long as Clarkson can move his feet. Tremendous size, length and big, physical bodies.

Losing AO and Bowers is going to be tough, though I really, really like what Criswell brings to the table (Defense, rebounding, energy and a nice, versatile offensive game). Question for me is about the rotation. Jankovic must get stronger if he's going to be part of a rotation at the 4 rather than the 3 (and you'd like to see him as a primary guy in the pick and roll because of his combo of 3-point marksmanship, ballhandling, agility and athleticism). I'm not sure JW3 will be strong enough to hold up inside (though his play of late has been pretty impressive).

From right around January 1 through the BXII tournament last year. His tenure started with a potential scandal that could have felled him and his background was spotty, so there was reason to be skeptical, but last year's regular season was wonderful.

I think Wes Clark is a great fit for what they ask the PG in this system to do. Just not sure he'll be ready to be the main man at the point as a true freshman. Clark has a very complete offensive game - good off the bounce and nice pull-up jumper in the mid-range.

Clarkson would give them a very interesting lineup if he's the starter at the point. You have to figure he, Brown and Ross are the starters on the wing. That should be a plus defensive group as long as Clarkson can move his feet. Tremendous size, length and big, physical bodies.

Losing AO and Bowers is going to be tough, though I really, really like what Criswell brings to the table (Defense, rebounding, energy and a nice, versatile offensive game). Question for me is about the rotation. Jankovic must get stronger if he's going to be part of a rotation at the 4 rather than the 3 (and you'd like to see him as a primary guy in the pick and roll because of his combo of 3-point marksmanship, ballhandling, agility and athleticism). I'm not sure JW3 will be strong enough to hold up inside (though his play of late has been pretty impressive).

Haven't watched much of Clark or JW3 but I'm excited about what I have seen from both. Clarkson is very good, and will bring a very good dynamic to the team. I'm most concerned about the 5-spot, because I really don't think Jankovic belongs as a 4. He's manhandled every time he's down low, as a result of poor footwork and positioning, combined with a frame that needs a metric shit-ton of work to get to the strength required for the grind of the backcourt game. If they feel that there's no ideal guy at the 5-spot, moving Criswell there and Jank to the 4 is a situation of "square peg, round hole" for both. I'd much rather see Criswell stretch at the elbow or short-wing baseline, as that's where he really seems to excel.

__________________Bacon-wrapped shrimp: My first-favorite food wrapped around my third-favorite food. I'd go to a banquet in honor of those Somali pirates if they served bacon-wrapped shrimp.

From right around January 1 through the BXII tournament last year. His tenure started with a potential scandal that could have felled him and his background was spotty, so there was reason to be skeptical, but last year's regular season was wonderful.

I was a Haith hater from the start, and the scandal didn't help. I was prepared to see the end of Mizzou hoops as anything even halfway decent.

Been a very pleasant surprise, and I think the recruiting work is still very impressive (Especially considering the weirdly out of balance scholarship mess he walked into).

I don't place much of the Norfolk State game on Haith. The offense performed very well - that was just a case of a poor defensive team getting exposed by a team having an unbelievable hot streak not only from its star big but also from its plethora of of normally bad perimeter shooters.

Just think: If the Miami scandal hadn't surfaced, Rodney Purvis is likely on this team (probably instead of Domonique Bull).

From right around January 1 through the BXII tournament last year. His tenure started with a potential scandal that could have felled him and his background was spotty, so there was reason to be skeptical, but last year's regular season was wonderful.

Seeing our guys in Lawrence last year was really the breaking point for me. Anderson was so consistently and brutally outcoached by Self, especially at AFH; to see those same guys go in with CFH and play the Crimson, Blue, and Zebra full-tilt for 45 minutes was really promising.

__________________Bacon-wrapped shrimp: My first-favorite food wrapped around my third-favorite food. I'd go to a banquet in honor of those Somali pirates if they served bacon-wrapped shrimp.

I was a Haith hater from the start, and the scandal didn't help. I was prepared to see the end of Mizzou hoops as anything even halfway decent.

Been a very pleasant surprise, and I think the recruiting work is still very impressive (Especially considering the weirdly out of balance scholarship mess he walked into).

I don't place much of the Norfolk State game on Haith. The offense performed very well - that was just a case of a poor defensive team getting exposed by a team having an unbelievable hot streak not only from its star big but also from its plethora of of normally bad perimeter shooters.

Just think: If the Miami scandal hadn't surfaced, Rodney Purvis is likely on this team (probably instead of Domonique Bull).

There is no doubt that NSU played out of their skulls in that game, but this team under Haith has always been terrible at guarding the perimeter. They give up so many open 3s that they were a defensive time bomb.

There is no doubt that NSU played out of their skulls in that game, but this team under Haith has always been terrible at guarding the perimeter. They give up so many open 3s that they were a defensive time bomb.

We really should have switched to a 3-2 zone in that game.

With KE at the 4?

__________________Bacon-wrapped shrimp: My first-favorite food wrapped around my third-favorite food. I'd go to a banquet in honor of those Somali pirates if they served bacon-wrapped shrimp.